Incinerator



Aug.' ,6, 1935. J. P. McKlNLEY 2,010,450

INGINERATOR Filed June 26, 19:51 a sheets-sheet 1 Patented Aug. 6, 1935 UNITED .STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,010,460 INCINERATOR John P. McKinley, Buffalo, N. Y.

Application June 26, 1931, Serial No. 546,959 14 claims. .(cl. 11o-1s) This invention relates to incinerators, such as are commonly lemployed for the burning of garbage, paper and other household refuse, and is particularly concerned with small incineratrs which may be employed in homes for the disposal of the usual household combustible refuse and garbage. Such incinerators heretofore have been unsatisfactory, because if the refuse or garbage placed in the incinerator is too wet, or has an insufilcient proportion of paper or other dry combustible matter, the incineration is incomplete and the burning compartment will soon be choked with unburnt, wet and odorous material. Such a choked condition requires a thorough cleaning of the incinerator, which is an unpleasant and dirty duty, as Well as an annoyance. Diiculty with such incinerators also has been caused from the emission of objectionable odors and smoke duringr the first part of the burning of any charge of refuse. Such incinerators also frequently get very hot, due to the rapid combustion of any very dry refuse placed therein and, since such incinerators are commonly used in homes, it is important that no fire hazard be permitted.

An object of this invention is to improve invcinerators of this type, and render them safer and more dependable.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved incinerator which will effectively dispose of all kinds of combustible refuse and garbage from the average household, whether wet or dry, which will incinerate such refus and garbage without objectionable odor at any time, which will not become choked from wet or soggy refuse and garbage, which will not constitute a re hazard in a home, which will be relatively simple and inexpensive in construction and operation, and which will be strong and durable, occupy a minimum of space, and require'a minimum of attention.

Various other objects and advantage will be apparent from the following .description of two embodiments of the invention, and the novel features will be particularly pointed out hereinafter in connection with the appended claims.v

'In the accompanying drawings:

Fig. l is a sectional elevation of an incinerator, constructed .in accordance with this invention and utilizing a gas burner as a source of heat in connection therewith;

Fig. 2 is a sectional plan of the same, with the section taken approximately along the line 2-2 of Fig. l;

Fig. 3 is a sectional elevation of another incinerator, also constructed in accordance with the invention, but illustrating the use of electricity as a source of heat in its operation;

Fig. 4 is a sectional plan of the same, with the section taken approximately along the line 4--4 of Fig. 3; and

Fig. 5 is a front elevation of a grille .or apertured partition forming a part of both embodiments of the invention, as shown in Figs. 1 to 4.

In the embodiment of the invention illustrated 10 in Figs. l, 2 and 5, the improved incinerator includes an upright casing I0 of sheet metal, having a top II and a base I2. An inner shell or enclosure I3 is disposed Within the casing II) in spaced relation to the upright wall of the cas- 15 ingand extends between the base I2 and the top II. 'I'his provides a space I4 between the casing and the shell in a nature of an air chamber or passage completely or largely surrounding the shell or enclosure I3. The casing I0 is provided 20 with a plurality of air inlet apertures I5 arranged around the lower part or base, through which air may enter the space I4 and pass upwardly therein. The shell I3 is provided with a row of apertures I6 adjacent its upper end, 25 through which air rising in the space I4 may enter the interior of the shell.

'I'he top II is provided with an upstanding, tubular ange I1 over which ts a stove pipe I8 leading to a chimney I9. A smoke pipe or con- 30 duit 20 depends from the top II into the interior of the shell I3, and extends well toward the bottom of the shell where it terminates in an open lower end with a slot 2I extending upwardly from the lower end of the pipe for a short distance. 35 The pipe or conduit 20 communicates with the pipe I8, and sinceit is used to convey away smoke and gases of combustion from the interior of the shell, it may be properly referred to as a smoke pipe. The pipe 20 however, is preferably spaced 40 somewhat or largely from the shell, so that air may circulate entirely around the depending pipe 20.

The casing III and shell I'3 at their lower ends and adjoining the base I2 are provided with 45 aligned openings faced by a frame 22, forming a drawer opening or passage through which is inserted an ash receiving pan or drawer 23. The

.pan 23 normally closes this opening defined by the frame 22, and extends across the bottom of the 50 shell I3 and beneath the open lower end of the pipe 20. Any soot collecting in the pipe 20 and dislodged therefrom will therefore fall directly into the ash pan 23.

A grate 24 is mounted to extend nearly across 55 vor face of thel pan 23and approximately -in the same horizontal levelas the lower end of pipe 20.

yThis grate includes a ring which nts horizontally along'the-upright walll of the shell I3, and also a rockable section 25 which is pivoted at its ends bytrunnions 26 and 21 projecting from the rock-- able section and having rotatable bearing with the ring. One of these trunnlons, such as2I, ex-v tends through suitable apertures in the casing receive crank handle (not shown) by which the rockable section 25 maybe oscillated upon its trunnions, so as to discharge any ashes into the' pan 23.

A grille or apertured partition or wall 28 is proing forks 29 .which rest upon and straddle a cross varm 30 of the fixed-ring of the grate 26, and

the upper end of the wall 28 is provided with a hook-like lateral extension 3i which engages in one of several small apertures 32 provided in the depending smoke pipe 20 adjacent to the upper end thereof. This grille or wall 28 extends across the interior of the shell I3 very much like the chord of a cylinder and may be considered as a partition wall which subdivides the interior of the shell into a refuse receiving compartment or chamber' A and a smaller chamber or compart-v ment B into which the pipe 23 depends and which may therefore be termed a draft compartment.

The compartment A which receives the refuse is defined at' its lower end by the grate 2d and receives air at the top through the openings i6. 'Ihe top II is provided with the chargingopening 33 which is closed by a removable Cover S6, and the refuse, such as paper and garbage, will be placed in the compartment A through the charging opening 33. Air leaves the compartment A through the apertures 32 or the draft compartment B.

The pipe 20 may conveniently be formed of a plate 35, which extends vertically, and connects horizontally spaced points of the shell It, and a somewhat U-shaped or channel strip 3S, which along its open face abuts against a face of the strip 35. Since the row of openings i@ e'xtends entirely around the shell I3, some of the openings will open` into the space around the pipe 2B, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, vand any air entering the shell I3 at the rear face of the strip or plate 35 will either pass into pipe 2li through apertures 3'I provided in the U-shaped strip 36 o r will descend tothe bottom edge of thestrip 35. The air which enters. the pipe 20 through the apertures 31 passes directly outthrough the stove pipe I8 tothechimney. W

'Ihe inner face of the casing I0 is preferably lined with a suitable heat insulating material 38, and therefore when the refuse burnsl within the compartment A, very little or no heat will escape from the sides of the casing IIL-but the air in the space I l will be heated, and this 'heated air will rise, pass through the apertures I6 into compart ment A, and there divide, the major portion passing downwardly and through the refuse receiving compartment A 'and into the draft compartment B, where it enters the pipe 20, thev other and yminor portion of the divided air entering directly into the pipe 20 through the openings 32 and 31,

"although" a verysmall portion may possibly descend along the rear face of the enter this pipe at its lower end.

A als burner 33, is disposed in the compartpipe 20 and ment A a short distance above the grate 24 and in a horizontal position. 'I'his burner is provided with a convex upper face or wall which serves to divert laterally any descending refuse which may engage it. The burner is provided with burner openings 40 on its lower face where they are shielded byan overhanging part of the burner, and a pilot burner 4I extends into the'space immediately at the underside of the burner where its orice or burner opening and ame are protected from the refuse by the main burner 39. I0 and shell I3, andatits outer end is formedv to `ing I0 and shell I3, and at its outer end is provided with a mixing device 43 receiving the discharge terminal or nozzle of a valve N leadingfrom a gas supply manifold d5. The pilot burner BI also extends through openings of the casing It and. shell I3, and at its outer end is connected through a regulating valve 46 to the manifold 65.

The action of this incinerator will now be briefly set forth. The refuse, which consists, for example, of papers and other combustible matter and garbage, is inserted through the charging opening 33 into the compartment A. The pilot burner 4I is normally burning and because it is protected by the burner 39 it will not be extinguished by the insertion of the refuse. The valve 6d is then manipulated to cause the movement of the gas and air to the mixing pipe 42 of the burner 39, and the issuing -mixture of gas and air .is ignited bythe flame of the pilot burner di;

The pilot burner and its Avalve d6 may be of the type used on gas ranges, with which pushing the valve 66 causes a larger pilot name. The main burner iiame ignites such of the refuse near the grate as is ready to burn, and the air which supports combustion moves downwardly and horizontally toward the draft compartment B vand enters the smokepipe 20. The air movement or draft inthe refuse compartment A is therefore a mixture of horizontal and downward movement. 'I'he burner 3S 4can ofcourse be lighted -before the refuse is placed in the incinerator, if one desires.

The heat from the burning-refuse and from the ame issuing from the burner'39 thoroughly Alargely inthe interior or lower zone of the-com` partment A, instead of burning from the top down-v wardly through the mass.- 1 Any..` smoke. or odors which ascend in the compartment A, instead :of passing downwardly to the smoke pipe or escape. ing from the casing, will be carried oif bytthe openings 32, and it has been found that with this :lncineraton` there will"be'no"-smoke or odor emittedA during the `'initial or any burning of any batch of garbage'or refuse." .f t

'Ihe part of the heated .air which enters. the pipe 20 through the openings' 32 and 3,1, will directly ascend through the chimney and thuswill promptly create a draft in the' pipe 20 which then functions to accelerate the removal of the remaining smoke and odors through the, lower end of -the'smoke pipe 20; The -heated air in the'chamber or passage I4 in passingdownward- 1y and horizontally through the compartment A tends todry the refuse before the-refuse 'reaches Ves a considerable drying ofv the refuse occurs be- 4fore itl comes within the direct range of the burner 39.

The ascending air in the chamber or passage I4, and the insulating layer 38, prevent excessive heating of the casing I0,- and therefore clearly reduce the i'lre hazard ofthe incinerator through the keeping of the outer casing cool. When the refuse contains a considerable proportion of dry, combustible material, the prolongeduse of the burner 39, except to ignite the refuse, will be unnecessary because the heat from part of the burning material will dry the remaining portion of the refuse suiciently to cause it to burn.

Referring next to Figs. 3 and 4, the form of ,the incinerator therein illustrated is similar to the form shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 5 except' that the gas burner 39 is replaced by an electrical unit 41, as a source of heat. In this example, the source of heat is in the nature of a sun bowl electric heater, having a. reflector 49 and a resistance heating element 49 disposed within the refiector 48. This unit is mounted on the casing I0 in the same place as the gas burner mixing pipe 42, but the aperture in the shell I3 for the mixing pipe 42 is made somewhat larger to receive the small end portion of the reector 48.

Instead of having source o'f heat actually project into compartment A as in Figs. 1 and 2, a short grille or apertured partition 50 is, disposed to extend upwardly from the grate a short distance, and spaced rearwardly from the forward side of the compartment. The wall 50 rests at its lower edge on the grate 24a, similar-to the grate 24 of Figs. 1 and 2, and is guided vertically for sliding movement in channel guides 5I disposed along the inner face of the shell I3. A plate 52 is attached to the upper edge of the wall 50 and extends upwardly and forwardly in an inclined direction until it abuts the shell I3, thus forming a slight restriction in the lower end section of the refuse compartment A. Since the electric heating unit 41 is disposed under the plate 52 and immediately in front of the grille or wall 50, the heat from the unit will be concentrated or focused upon the refuse in the compartment A, so as to dry the refuse therein as the latter settles toward the grate.

I have found that when a mixture oi.' garbage and paper is placed in the compartment A, the heat from the unit 41 when the latter is turned on not only dries the refuse but also ignites it automatically.A Both gas and electric sources of heat, therefore, not only dry the refuse but also ignite it. When access to the electric heater unit 41 is desired, the wall 50 may be slid upwardly and removed from the channel guides 5I, whereupon the removable heating element 49 may be detached from the base secured to the outer face ofthe casing I0, which releases the reflector 48 enabling it to be removed from the compartment', A. The construction and use of this form of incinerator is otherwise the same as in Figs. 1 and 2, and similar parts are designated by the same reference characters used in describing Figs. 1 and 2.

While the electric unit and gas burner both have been shown as being manually controlled, it will be understood that time controlled switches and valves common in the art, may be used to control the unit or burner so as to shut them on after the unit or burner has been in operation for a desired interval -of time following the introduction of a charge of refuse, and the turning on of the valve or heater, thereby avoiding waste of electricity or gas if an attendant forgets to shut them off.l

It. will be obvious that various changes in the details, which have been herein described and illustrated in order to explain the nature of the invention, may be made by those skilled in the art within the principle and scope of the invencreating a draft through said chamber and having a major opening communicating with the lower part of said chamber adjacent said grate and having a minor opening communicating with the upper part of said chamber, and a source of heat disposed to act upon the contents of said chamber well below said charging opening and at a point materially above but adjacent said grate, whereby the interiorof said mass of refuse will be dried-for burning.

2. An incinerator comprising a refuse receiving chamber having a grate at the bottom and a charging opening adjacent|to the top thereof, air inlet means solely at the upper part of said chamber, means connected to said chamber approximately at said grate for creating a down draft through said chamber and a heating device disposed along a side wall of said chamber at a point slightly higher than said grate and below the normal level of refuse in saidv chamber but at the side of said chamber opposite the connection of said draft creating means to said chamber, said device acting upon said refuse between the upward and lower levels of the latter so as to dry it for burning.

3. An incinerator comprising a casing, a shell within the casing and having its upright wall spaced largely from the casing to provide an air passage between them, said shell having a refuse receiving compartment therein with a grate at its'lower end, said casing having an air inlet opening into said passage adjacent the bottom of the casing, and said shell having an air inlet opening adjacent its top into said compartment, a chimney conduit opening into said shell adjacent the lower end of said compartment so as to create a normal down draft in said compartment, and also having a restricted minor opening directly communicating with the upper end of said shell, whereby when any refuse in said compartment is ignited, the heat therefrom will heat the air between the shell and casing which then enters at the top of the compartment, the major part descending through said compartment to the chimney conduit, and a small part passing through said restricted opening in said conduit, so as to create and maintain a good draft in the chimney and carry oif smoke and odors arising from the burning refuse.

4. An incinerator comprising an upright casing, a shell within said casing and dividing it into A compartment and a draft compartment, said refuse receiving compartment having a grate at its lowerlendfspaced above the bottom of said cas-1 ing, said casing having a charging opening adjacent the ltop of said refuse receiving compartment, and asinoke pipe'depending from the upper part of the, casing downwardly in said draftV compartment and spaced from said partition, and having an open lowerend adjacent said grate, and also having a. restricted opening communieating with the upperv part of said shell, whereby when refuse is ignited in said refuse receiving y remainder of the air passing through said restricted opening into said chimney pipe, so asto carry o any smoke or odors arising from said refuse receiving compartment in starting.

5. An incinerator comprising an upright casing, a shell within said casing and dividing it into an inner chamber and a ysurrounding chamber, said.

casing having an air inlet opening adjacent the lower part thereof, and said shell having an opening in its upper part, an upright grille-like partition across said inner chamber so as to divide said inner chamber into a refuse receiving compartment and a draft compartment, said refuse receiving compartment having a grate at its lower end spaced above the bottom of said casing, said casing having a charging opening adjacent the top of said refuse receiving compartment, a smoke pipe depending from the upper part of the casing downwardly in said draft compartment and spaced from said partition, and .having an open lower end adjacent said grate and also having a restricted opening communicating with the upper part of said shell, whereby when refuse is ignitedin said refuse receiving compartment, the heat from the refuse receiving compartment will heat the air in said surrounding chamber b'etween theshell and the casing, which heated air will rise and enter the interior of the shell adjacent the top thereof through said opening therein, a large part of it descendingthrough said refuse receiving compartment and leaving through said smoke pipe, and the remainder of the air passing through said restricted opening into said chimney pipe, so as to carry oiany smoke or odors arising from said refuse receiving compartment in starting, and means for applying heat from an additional source to the interior of the refuse receiving compartment at a point between the lower edge of said charging opening and said grate, for drying the refuse as it settles towards said grate.

6. An incinerator comprising an upright casing, a shell within said vcasing and spaced from the upright wall thereof so as to provide an air chamber between the shell and casing, an upright grillelike partition in said shell, dividing it into a vertically extending, refuse receivingl compartment and an upstanding draft compartment, a grate extending across the lower end of said refuse receiving compartment and disposed above the bottom of' said casing, so as to provide an ash receiving pit inthe lower end of the shell,.said casing having air inlet openings adjacent its lower end, and said shell having air inlet openings adjacent its upper end, whereby air may enter said shell, whereby the major part of the smoke and odors will be removed from the lower part of said draft compartment, and any ascending smoke and odors will be removed from the upper end of the shell, and some of the heated air entering the inner shell adjacent the top thereof may pass directly into said gas removing means through said restricted communication in order to maintain a good draft suction in said draft compartment.

7. An incinerator comprising an upright casing,

a shell within said casing and spaced from the upright wall thereof so as to provide an air chamber between the shell and casing, an upright grille-like partition in said shell, dividing it into a vertically extending, refuse receiving compartment and an upstanding draft compartment, a grate extending across the' lower end of said refuse receiving compartment and disposed above the bottom of said casing, so as to provide an ash receiving pit in the lower end of the shell, said casing having air inlet openings adjacent its lower end, and said shell having air inlet openings adjacent its upper end,` whereby air may enter the space between the shell and the casing, pass upwardly and enter the interior of said shell, adjacent the top thereof, means opening into the lower end'of said draft compartment -for removing gases of combustion therefrom, said gas removing means also having a restricted communication of lesser size with the upper end of said shell, whereby the major part of the smoke and odors will be removed from the lower part of said draft compartment, and any ascending smoke and odors will be removed from the upper end of the shell, and some of the heated air entering the inner shell adjacent the top thereof may pass directly into said gas removing means through said restricted communication in order to maintain a good draft suction in said draft compartment, and a heating device acting upon the interior of any of said refuse just above said grate in said refuse receiving compartment for drying the refuse as it descends toward said grate.

8. An incinerator comprising a casing having a refuse receiving and burning compartment therein with a grate at the lower end of the compartment and a charging opening adjacent the upper end thereof, whereby refuse deposited in `said compartment through said opening will descend towards said grate, a gas burner extending into the interior of said compartment at a point between, and spaced away from, said grate and said charging opening for drying and burning the descending refuse, said burner having a broad approximately impervious upper face spreading the refuse to the sides of the burner, and having burner openings under said face where they are protected from the descending refuse, means for creating a combined downward and lateral draft Cil partment, a normally closed charging opening adjacent to the upper end of the compartment, and a grille-like upstanding side wall intermediate said grate and charging opening and of substantial height, means including a draft ue for creating a draft in said compartment in a direction endwise of said compartment, and conducting away in a conned space, the products of combustion so as to dry and burn any refuse in that compartment, and an electric heating unit vdisposed in said casing outside of said compartthe upper end of the compartment, said casing` having air inlet openings at the upper end of said compartment, a draft iiue having an opening communicating with said casing approximately at one side of said grate for creating a down draft in said compartment so as to dry and burn any refuse in that compartment, and an electric heat ing unit disposed in said casing outside of said compartment at the side of said grate opposite from said flue opening and along an upright wall of said compartment at a point between and spaced from both said grate and said charging opening for concentrating heat upon the refuse in said compartment, whereby said refuse will be thoroughly dried as it descends in said compartmenttoward said grate, said unit including a reiiector partially surrounding said electric heating unit and facing said compartment for concentrating and directing the radiant heat from said unit upon the refuse at a point just above said gra e.

11. An incinerator comprising a casing having therein a refuse receiving and burning compartment, with a grate at the lower end of the compartment and a normally closed charging opening adjacent the upper end of the compartment, said casing having an air inlet opening at its upper end, a draft iiue opening into said casing adjacent one edge of said grate for creating a down draft through said compartment, said compartment having an open grille along part of one upright wall thereof at the side opposite said opening from the draft flue, and a. source of= heat arranged in front of saidgrille above said grate and below said charging opening and directing radiant heat through said grille upon the refuse in said compartment for drying it as it descends toward said grate.

12. An incinerator comprising an upright enclosure, a draft pipe extending downwardly and opening into said enclosure adjacent its lower end, and having a restricted opening of lesser size directly communicating with the upper part of said enclosure, an open grille partition supported in an upright position within said enclosure, a grate across said lower part of said enclosure and interengaging with the lower end of said partition, said enclosure having an air inlet opening adjacent its upper end, whereby the major part of the air entering said enclosure through said air inlet opening may descend through the enclosure and burn refuse supported on said grate at one side of said partition, and a minor portion of entering air may pass directly through said restricted opening and carry oi any ascending smoke and odors.

13. An incinerator comprising a casing, an open ended shell within, and spaced from the side walls of said casing and extending from the top to the bottom thereof, said casing having openings therethrough into the space between said shell and casing adjacent the bottom of the casing, and said shell having apertures therethrough adjacent to its top, whereby air may enter the space between the casing and shell at the bottom of the casing, pass upwardly and enter the interior of the shell adjacent the top thereof, said casing having a normally closed charging door at the top by which refuse may be inserted in said shell, a grate supported across the lower portion of said shell, a grille extending upwardly from said grate in spaced relation to one side of the shell so as to divide the interior of the shell above the grate into a burning chamber above the grate and a draft compartment at the opposite side of the grille, and a draft flue opening into said shell at approximately the level of said grate, said iiue also having a restricted passage opening into said burning chamber adjacent the top thereof, said casing being otherwise substantially closed, whereby all air for combustion purposes must pass upwardly between the shell and casing where it is preheated by any combustion in said chamber, and then will divide, the major portion passing downwardly to said draft opening and a minor portion passing directly through said restricted opening into said draft flue, whereby wet refuse in said combustion chamber will be dried by the movement of heated air downwardly through the refuse and through said draft compartment along the grille, and suiiicient air will be removed from the top of the combustion chamber to carry oi any-odors and smoke that may arise from the refuse.

14. The invention substantially as set forth in claim 13, characterized by having means for applying heat supplied from an external source to said refuse at a point between said grate and said charging opening and spaced well from the lowerA iiue opening whereby air heated from said source will travelv in contact with said refuse and dry it to facilitate its combustion as said air travels to said flue opening. v

JOHN P. MCKINLEY. 

